5 reasons to get a front row seat to the action, as the next leg of the World Triathlon Series comes to Leeds and Nottingham.
The AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds (8-9 June) and Accenture World Triathlon Mixed Relay Nottingham (15 June) offers triathlon fans a premier opportunity to support the British team as they battle it out against the world’s best on home soil
Leeds Grandstand Tickets Nottingham Grandstand Tickets
1) Inspired British Performances
Holland and Taylor Brown finished 1-2 at WTS Leeds 2018.
Over the past 3 years the Leeds crowd have helped inspire personal bests and a have been rewarded with seeing a British 1-2 in either the men's or women's race. In 2018 the Leeds race was a breakthrough moment in the season for both world champion Vicky Holland and Georgia Taylor-Brown (3rd in the 2018 overall series), with Vicky winning her first World Series race since 2015 and Georgia stepping onto her first podium at this level, with further success following throughout the season.
In Nottingham the crowd was equally treated to a medal winning performance as the British team set up Jonathan Brownlee on the last leg with an opportunity to make a move on the podium, to which the crowd cheered home a silver medal.
2) The newest Olympic format
Above: Highlights of the Accenture World Triathon Mixed Relay Nottingham 2018.
Nottingham is once again set to welcome triathlon stars from around the globe for an evening of world-class action as quartets swim, bike and run over ultra-short distances in the sports newest Olympic discipline of mixed relay. The format is one of the most exciting to watch with a constant battle for the front and no room for error, teams will be continuing to tweak tactics ahead of the Olympic debut of the event in 2020.
...The changeover dives can be pretty extravagant to so look out for a bit of showboating!
3) The old guard versus the new
The Brownlee's and Yee will go head to head on the World Series for the first time in Leeds.
The iconic brother pairing of Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee are set to compete once again in there hometown in 2019 and despite neither being on a individual World Series podium since August 2017, they certainly aren't just coming to make up the numbers. Injury and illness hampered 2018 performances (with Alistair also having spent time focussing on long distance racing in recent years), but both have shown they still have the ability and determination to mix it with the very best; Jonny taking the Singapore Super League Triathlon stage win and Alistair lifting the tape in a sprint finish at the recent ITU World cup in Cagliari. These two are never to be ruled out and will be spurred on in front of local fans to go for the top steps on the podium as seen in 2016 and 2017.
Those that have followed the World Series so far this year will also be becoming familiar with a new name from the Leeds Triathlon Centre appearing on the top level racing circuit. Alex Yee has hit the ground running in 2019 picking up silver on his debut in Abu Dhabi and backing that up with a 5th placed finish in Yokohama - striding up through the field with a sub 30 minute 10km! Whilst still developing and learning from every new experience at this level, it'll be exciting to see what the young British talent can do.
4) Undefeated Zaferes
Can anyone break Zaferes' winning streak?
So far in 2019 Katie Zaferes (USA) has been unstoppable, launching straight from taking the Super League Triathlon crown into taking World Triathlon Series wins at Abu Dhabi, Bermuda and Yokohama to be on a faultless 3000 points after three events. Having competed in Leeds for the first time in 2018, Katie will no doubt be looking to improve on her bronze and will be fired up to continue her assault on the world title she so narrowly missed out on in 2018 to Britain's Vicky Holland.
The British women's team is one of the most in form group of athletes in the world right now however, and with a home course advantage it's set to be an enthralling race.
5) Unrivalled view throughout the race
From the grandstand at both events you'll have the best view of all the action, overseeing the transition area where athletes will pass through a number of times throughout the race and be in view of a big screen with commentary to keep up with every twist and turn until the tape is lifted at the finish line.
Leeds Grandstand Tickets Nottingham Grandstand Tickets
